NUM WESTERN CAPE REGION IS UNHAPPY WITH THE RECENT APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF OPERATION OFFICER OF GENERATION AT ESKOM

NUM WESTERN CAPE REGION IS UNHAPPY WITH THE RECENT APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF OPERATION OFFICER OF GENERATION AT ESKOM

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the Western Cape Region is highly disturbed and perturbed by the news that Eskom has again employed an executive from externally. We have observed reports that Eskom recently appointed the COO of Generation division. Our understanding is that the company has an embargo on recruitment whether internally or externally. This moratorium on recruitment, promotion and salary adjustment seem to be only applicable to only the bargaining unit. The bargaining unit employees are the employees who generate, transmit and distribute electricity. The bargaining employees toil during the cold and raining winter of Cape Town to keep the light burning, but Eskom has stopped all salary adjustments, recruitment, and promotion for these employees.

If Eskom says they do not have money to finance promotions and recruitments, then the embargo must be implemented to all employees at all levels. Eskom has employed the COO who report to Phakamani Hadebe. Mr. Hadebe decided to split the duties of GCE into two but still receive a full salary of the GCE and also pay the COO but cannot promote or adjust salaries for those employees who are keeping the light burning. He further employed the COO of generation, duplicating the duties of the generation executive. If we allow this trend to continue we will end up with COO for all the divisions in Eskom. The NUM is calling for the Eskom board to stop these nonsensical appointments of executives. We are told that the company does not have money but continue appointing executives at exorbitant salaries. It an animal farm situation.